A baking-hot summer could finally be around the corner, with weather forecasters predicting that the country could be basking in warm and sunny weather for the rest of July.
It comes just weeks after the public were given a dreary warning from the Exeter-based Met Office that Britain faced a decade of rainy summers.
Forecasters have said that a build-up of high pressure will lead to fine weather across Britain, resulting in below average rainfall and above average temperatures.
And the Westcountry is poised to enjoy its longest spell of fine weather this year.
Met Office forecasters now predict the fine weather will last for at least the next few weeks – apart from a little rain and breezy conditions over the next few days before the warm weather returns.
Met Office spokesman Dan Williams said there was an "unusually high probability" of good weather from Friday onwards.
"The signs are looking decent for the rest of July. The outlook is for fine, settled weather across the UK from the end of this week."
Temperatures are expected to soar next weekend and reach the mid-20s by the start of next week.
Mr Williams' colleague Tony Gray said: "There is a good chance of increasingly warm temperatures during the course of the week, especially inland, becoming locally very warm in sunny conditions."
Farming leaders in the region welcomed the forecast as the "best possible news" for the industry. It comes after one of the wettest years on record last year followed by the coldest spring in more than 50 years – affecting crops, livestock feed and morale.
Anthony Gibson, former regional director of the National Farmers' Union, said: "If the Met Office have got it right, then it is the best possible news farmers can have. It will give them a really strong chance of producing a good harvest."
Experts met at the Devon-based forecasting agency last month to discuss extreme weather. They predicted the UK faced another decade of wet summers due to a rare weather cycle.
Tourism and food industry bosses welcomed the latest forecast for July – but were critical of previous "negative" or "exaggerated" forecasts.
Malcolm Bell, head of tourism body Visit Cornwall spoke of a "growing frustration" with weather forecasters and presenters.
He said: "If people are given the wrong impression when there's little confidence in the forecast, it can do great damage to late bookings. Careless words from weather presenters can cost the industry dear."
Robin Barker, who leads Devon-based company Services for Tourism, said: "A good weather forecast is extraordinarily beneficial to the tourism industry. It can set the mood for the rest of the year."
John Sheaves, chief executive of Taste of the West, said: "The weather has a huge knock-on effect for everyone, not least suppliers of food and drink. A good forecast makes people feel good about the world. I wish presenters had their glass half-full rather than half-empty."
